Published: Wednesday, July 18, 2012 at 5:40 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, July 18, 2012 at 5:40 p.m.

HOOVER, Ala. — Remember when Arkansas announced that John L. Smith would replace Bobby Petrino as the Razorbacks' head coach? You probably thought what I did — really?

It didn't make a lot of sense. Smith had just taken a head coaching job at Weber State. Arkansas had (and still has) a chance to be one of the elite teams in college football this season.

John L. Smith? Crazy John L. Smith?

The guy who runs with the bulls and told his Louisville team at halftime of its bowl game he was leaving for Michigan State and threw his assistants under the bus during a sideline interview?

After Wednesday, it started to make a little more sense to me. Smith's stand-up act convinced me Arkansas probably hired the perfect coach to step into an imperfect situation.

“I go home in the evening, my wife and I talk a little bit from time to time and say, ‘Wow, has this been a roller coaster?' ” Smith said when I asked him if the last few months have been a little surreal.

This was before he got loud. Like when he was asked if he'd like to keep the job after his 10-month contract runs out.

“Well, certainly. Do I look stupid?” he said. “Don't answer that question.”

Arkansas went out and hired someone who was familiar with the situation (he coached under Petrino at Arkansas), would jump at a 10-month contract and would have almost no chance of getting the job once the season is complete.

What Arkansas got is a coach who will let his assistants do their jobs and keep the team loose in a tight situation. The players he brought with him don't call him coach. They call him John L. Can you imagine Alabama players referring to their coach as Nick?

“We wanted a guy from the staff,” said linebacker Tenarius Wright. “But when he got hired we all took a deep breath and said, ‘We have the same staff.'

“John L. is very enthusiastic. We have a real tight bond with him. No, I never called Bobby (Petrino).”

Petrino was as stiff as an old man's knee. Smith is so loose he left the interview room with his arm around a member of the media.

Which is just what Arkansas needs right now. OK, so he is going to declare bankruptcy sometime during the season because of failed real estate dealings. Which would you prefer — a coach who is financially bankrupt or one who is morally bankrupt?

Sure, he left Weber State hanging. Think that bothers anyone at Arkansas, which hired Petrino before his first season with the Atlanta Falcons was over?

Smith talked Wednesday about hoping to win enough games to be hired on a permanent basis. But he might have to win them all. And even then, he'll get about as much credit as Barry Switzer did when he got out of the way while Dallas won Super Bowl XXX.

Instead, the prevailing opinion seems to be that the Petrino firing probably drops Arkansas out of the race for a national title. The Razorbacks would have been somebody's pick if Petrino's actions hadn't begged Arkansas to fire him. They return plenty of firepower on offense, should be better on defense and have Alabama and LSU at home instead of the road.

But don't we look at this team now and think it has to be dysfunctional? These players have been through a lot and the only person who really believes he'll shed the “interim” tag is Smith himself.

It may bother recruits and it may make it harder to take him seriously, but the players on the Arkansas team are taking the old “adversity makes you stronger” approach. It can, of course, but it doesn't always.

“We're going to win some games this year,” said quarterback Tyler Wilson. “At the end of the year, we'll see how you feel.”

Said running back Knile Davis, “Nothing has changed.”

If he has them believing nothing has really changed, he's won half the battle.

But we all know that everything is different at Arkansas.

Especially the head coach.

Contact Pat Dooley at 352-374-5053 or at dooleyp@gvillesun.com. And follow at Twitter.com/Pat_Dooley.

<p>HOOVER, Ala. — Remember when Arkansas announced that John L. Smith would replace Bobby Petrino as the Razorbacks' head coach? You probably thought what I did — really?</p><p>It didn't make a lot of sense. Smith had just taken a head coaching job at Weber State. Arkansas had (and still has) a chance to be one of the elite teams in college football this season.</p><p>John L. Smith? Crazy John L. Smith?</p><p>The guy who runs with the bulls and told his Louisville team at halftime of its bowl game he was leaving for Michigan State and threw his assistants under the bus during a sideline interview? </p><p>After Wednesday, it started to make a little more sense to me. Smith's stand-up act convinced me Arkansas probably hired the perfect coach to step into an imperfect situation.</p><p>“I go home in the evening, my wife and I talk a little bit from time to time and say, 'Wow, has this been a roller coaster?' ” Smith said when I asked him if the last few months have been a little surreal.</p><p>This was before he got loud. Like when he was asked if he'd like to keep the job after his 10-month contract runs out.</p><p>“Well, certainly. Do I look stupid?” he said. “Don't answer that question.”</p><p>Arkansas went out and hired someone who was familiar with the situation (he coached under Petrino at Arkansas), would jump at a 10-month contract and would have almost no chance of getting the job once the season is complete.</p><p>What Arkansas got is a coach who will let his assistants do their jobs and keep the team loose in a tight situation. The players he brought with him don't call him coach. They call him John L. Can you imagine Alabama players referring to their coach as Nick?</p><p>“We wanted a guy from the staff,” said linebacker Tenarius Wright. “But when he got hired we all took a deep breath and said, 'We have the same staff.' </p><p>“John L. is very enthusiastic. We have a real tight bond with him. No, I never called Bobby (Petrino).”</p><p>Petrino was as stiff as an old man's knee. Smith is so loose he left the interview room with his arm around a member of the media. </p><p>Which is just what Arkansas needs right now. OK, so he is going to declare bankruptcy sometime during the season because of failed real estate dealings. Which would you prefer — a coach who is financially bankrupt or one who is morally bankrupt?</p><p>Sure, he left Weber State hanging. Think that bothers anyone at Arkansas, which hired Petrino before his first season with the Atlanta Falcons was over?</p><p>Smith talked Wednesday about hoping to win enough games to be hired on a permanent basis. But he might have to win them all. And even then, he'll get about as much credit as Barry Switzer did when he got out of the way while Dallas won Super Bowl XXX.</p><p>Instead, the prevailing opinion seems to be that the Petrino firing probably drops Arkansas out of the race for a national title. The Razorbacks would have been somebody's pick if Petrino's actions hadn't begged Arkansas to fire him. They return plenty of firepower on offense, should be better on defense and have Alabama and LSU at home instead of the road.</p><p>But don't we look at this team now and think it has to be dysfunctional? These players have been through a lot and the only person who really believes he'll shed the “interim” tag is Smith himself.</p><p>“I don't take anything for granted,” Smith said. “That's why a 10-month contract doesn't bother me.”</p><p>It may bother recruits and it may make it harder to take him seriously, but the players on the Arkansas team are taking the old “adversity makes you stronger” approach. It can, of course, but it doesn't always.</p><p>“We're going to win some games this year,” said quarterback Tyler Wilson. “At the end of the year, we'll see how you feel.”</p><p>Said running back Knile Davis, “Nothing has changed.”</p><p>If he has them believing nothing has really changed, he's won half the battle.</p><p>But we all know that everything is different at Arkansas. </p><p>Especially the head coach.</p><p>Contact Pat Dooley at 352-374-5053 or at dooleyp@gvillesun.com. And follow at Twitter.com/Pat_Dooley.</p>